ncy replies, by again flinging his arms around, and rapturously
kissing her: perhaps thinking it the best answer he can give. If that
be not reality, what is?

Jessie has now joined them, and after exchanged congratulations, there
succeed mutual inquiries and explanations. Clancy has commenced giving
a brief account of what has occurred to himself, when he is interrupted
by a rough, but kindly voice; that of Sime, saying:--

"Ye kin tell them all that at some other time, Charley; thar aint a
minnit to be throwed away now." Then drawing Clancy aside, speaking so
as not to be heard by the others. "Thar's danger in dallyin' hyar.
I've jest been puttin' thet jail bird, Bosley, through a bit o'
catechism; an' from what he's told me the sooner we git out o' hyar the
better. Who d'ye spose is at the bottom o' all this? I needn't ask ye;
ye're boun to guess. I kin see the ugly brute's name bulgin' out yur
cheeks."

"Borlasse!"

"In course it's he. Bosley's confessed all. Ked'nt well help it, wi'
my bowie threetenin' to make a red stream run out o' him. The gang--
thar's twenty o' 'em all counted--goed up to the Mission to plunder it--
a sort o' burglarious expedishun; Borlasse hevin' a understandin' wi' a
treetur that's inside--a sort o' sarvint to the Creole, Dupray, who only
late engaged him. Wal; it seems they grupped the gurls, as they war
makin' for the house--chanced on 'em outside in the garden. Bosley an'
the other hev toated 'em this far, an' war wait in for the rest to come
on wi' the stolen goods. They may be hyar at any minnit; an', wi' Jim
Borlasse at thar head, I needn't tell ye what that means. Four o' us
agin twenty--for we can't count on Harkness--it's ugly odds. We'd hev
no show, howsomever. It 'ud end in their again grabbin' these pretty
critters, an' 's like 's not end our own lives."

Clancy needs no further speech to convince him of the danger. After
what has occurred, an encounter with the robbers would, indeed, be
disastrous. Richard Darke, leagued with Jim Borlasse, a noted pirate of
the prairies; their diabolical plans disclosed, and only defeated by the
merest accident of circumstances.

"You're right, Sime. We mustn't be caught by the scoundrels. As you
say, that would be the end of everything. How are we to avoid them?"

"By streakin' out o' hyar quick as possible."

"Do you propose our taking to the timber, and lying hid till they go
past?"

"No. Our better plan 'll